Kekkei genkai (血継限界, Literally meaning: a technique limited to inheritance by blood" or "Bloodline Limit) are abilities passed down genetically within specific clans. It's possible for a ninja to have more than one of these abilities. Kekkei genkai abilities that work via the user's eye are called dōjutsu. Other kekkei genkai include mixing one type of elemental chakra with another, creating a new one unique to the users, which is usually impossible for normal ninja.

Kekkei genkai and their related techniques cannot be taught to or copied by others. However, kekkei genkai can be given to others. Dōjutsu, or other kekkei genkai isolated to a single organ, can be transplanted into the body of another, as was done with transferring Obito's Sharingan to Kakashi. Use of these organs requires much more chakra than someone born with the kekkei genkai. Chakra elements can also be passed down to people outside of the clan, such as Yamato being subjected to DNA re-modification by Orochimaru who wanted to acquire the Wood Release kekkei genkai. However, Yamato's skill in using it is not nearly as powerful as the originator: Hashirama Senju, and the risk of such process was that Yamato was the only one of the sixty test subjects to survive.[1][2]

Although kekkei genkai are usually genetically shared within a specific clan, sometimes it is unique to one person alone, and that even family relatives do not share it, such as the Wood Release and Shikotsumyaku. Yet other kekkei genkai seem to appear in individuals with no known relation, such as the Lava Release, which has appeared in ninja from Kirigakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure, while Magnet Release, which has appeared in ninja from both Kumogakure and Sunagakure.

Crystal Release

The Crystal Release (晶遁, Shōton, English TV: Crystal Style) is a rare and specialised field of elementalninjutsu that can create crystal as well as manipulate already-existing crystals and crystalline structures.

Dark Release

The Dark Release (冥遁, Meiton, Viz: Shade Style) is a specialised nature transformationkekkei genkai that can be used to absorb, manipulate, and release chakra taken from an opponent. Hiruko used techniques of this nature through a mark on his left hand. This mark resembles two diamonds, one overlapping the other. Chakra is absorbed through the upper square, while it is released and manipulated through the lower.

Explosion Release

Explosion Release (爆遁, Bakuton, Viz: Explosive Style) is a combined chakranature transformationkekkei genkai. This chakra nature is stated to be made of the earth nature,[5] and hinted to be made of lightning nature[6][Notes 1] to give the wielder the ability to utilise explosive chakra in combat, allowing them to cause explosions in objects they come into contact with.

Iburi Clan's Kekkei Genkai

This unique kekkei genkai is possessed by the members of the Iburi clan, which allows them to turn their bodies, either partially or fully, into smoke to serve various purposes. While in their smoke form the user becomes impervious to damage and can use this trait to gain an opportunity in battle, for example by allowing weapons to slip through them without any effects. However, if needed, they can still interact with physical objects.

Ice Release

Ice Release (氷遁, Hyōton, Viz: Ice Style) is the combined nature transformationkekkei genkai of the Yuki clan made up of techniques that combines wind and water-based chakra to create and manipulate ice, forming it into various structures. When the user releases their chakra, the surrounding vicinity becomes cold enough to cause snow to fall.[7] The ice Haku creates is also extremely resistant to fire-based attacks, only melting slightly when coming into contact with Sasuke's flames.

Jūgo's Clan's Natural Energy Absorption

Members of Jūgo's clan have unique enzymes which allow them to passively absorb and effectively make use of natural energy, with or without training in senjutsu. However, due to the constant intake of natural energy, they are prone to mental instability, sporadically feeling sudden and uncontrollable urges to kill. Though Kabuto, who genetically altered his DNA to obtain this trait, does not seem to suffer from this side-effect. The wielder's body can also secrete special fluids which, through means of Senjutsu chakra, allow them to transform parts of their bodies.

Kurama Clan's Kekkei Genkai

Every few generations a member of the Kurama clan will be born with an incredible talent for genjutsu. The clan member's talent in that field is such that their genjutsu is overwhelming. Furthermore, the genjutsu is so powerful that it causes the brain to believe anything that happens to the victim within the genjutsu physically harm their body. This fearsome ability allows the clan member to potentially kill their opponents with genjutsu.

Lava Release

Lava Release (熔遁; 溶遁, Yōton, Viz: Corrosion Style" or "Lava Style) is a combined nature transformationkekkei genkai made up of techniques that mix fire and earth-based chakra to create volcanic materials such as lava or rubber in different properties and usages.

Mangekyō Sharingan

Main article: Mangekyō Sharingan
The Mangekyō Sharingan is awakened by a Sharingan user when they suffer from trauma after witnessing the death of someone close to them. With the user normally having to witness or experience this first hand, Uchiha throughout history have killed those closest to them in order to expedite this process.[10]

It is distinguished from a normal Sharingan by its appearance, which changes the form of the tomoe seal. Unlike the Sharingan, the appearance of the Mangekyō Sharingan differs from user to user with all known wielders of the dōjutsu having eyes that resemble variations of pinwheels.

Ranmaru's Kekkei Genkai

Ranmaru possessed a dōjutsukekkei genkai which, when activated, causes his eyes to glow red in colour. It grants him abilities such as penetrative vision as well as the ability to hinder other dōjutsu such as the Byakugan which his own dōjutsu has been likened to.

Rinha Clan's Kekkei Genkai

Rinnegan

The Rinnegan (輪廻眼, Literally meaning: Saṃsāra Eye) is reputed as the most exalted eyes amongst the Three Great Dōjutsu (三大瞳術, San Daidōjutsu, Literally meaning: Three Great Eye Techniques),[11] along with the Byakugan and the Sharingan.[12] It originated from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's Rinne Sharingan, and truly manifested for the first time as a kekkei mōra in her son, the Sage of the Six Paths. Its dual variant is characterised by a ripple-like pattern which spreads over the eyeball, with light purple sclerae and irides, and its singular variant has the same features, albeit containing a pattern of six tomoe.

Sakon and Ukon's Kekkei Genkai

Sakon and Ukon's unnamed kekkei genkai gives them the unique ability to break their bodies down to a molecular level. The two brothers usually use this ability to share the same body but can also use it to merge with the bodies of others and destroy the host's cells from the inside. When Sakon is in need of assistance, Ukon can bring out some of his body parts to aid Sakon in blocking or attacking. Ukon's arms and legs can emerge from those of Sakon's to increase the force and quantity to his physical attacks.

Scorch Release

Scorch Release (灼遁, Shakuton, Viz: Scorch Style) is a combined nature transformationkekkei genkai made up of techniques that mix fire and wind-based[13] chakra to create scorching heat which capable of heating up an enemy to the point where all the liquid inside their body evaporates, killing the victim and leaving them a desiccated corpse.

Sharingan

The Sharingan (写輪眼, Literally meaning: Copy Wheel Eye, Meaning (Viz): Mirror Wheel Eye) is the dōjutsukekkei genkai of the Uchiha clan that appears selectively among its members.[14] Derived from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's Rinne Sharingan, its own individual form first manifested in her grandson Indra Ōtsutsuki, the ancestor of the Uchiha clan. It later became regarded as one of the Three Great Dōjutsu (三大瞳術, San Daidōjutsu, Literally meaning: Three Great Eye Techniques), along with the Byakugan and the Rinnegan.[15]

Shikotsumyaku

Shikotsumyaku (屍骨脈, Literally meaning: Dead Bone Pulse, Meaning (Viz): Macabre Bone Pulse) is a kekkei genkai which gives its wielder the ability to manipulate their own skeletal structure (their osteoblasts and osteoclasts). By infusing their calcium with chakra, they could manipulate the growth and properties of their bones to their liking.[16]Kaguya Ōtsutsuki manifested a similar, albeit more lethal, ability to weaponise her bone structure from which Shikotsumyaku originates. This kekkei genkai is inherited into a rare few amongst Kaguya's descendants in the Kaguya clan, Kimimaro being the only other known inheritor of this power.

Swift Release

The Swift Release (迅遁, Jinton, Viz: Quick Style) is a specialised nature transformationkekkei genkai that can be used to move with instantaneous speed, granting the user an advantage over opponents with more strength than speed, such as users of Chakra Enhanced Strength. This nature therefore renders the user invulnerable against most taijutsu.

Wood Release

Wood Release (木遁, Mokuton, Viz: Wood Style) is a combined nature transformationkekkei genkai made up of techniques that mix earth-based chakra in one hand and water-based chakra in the other[17] to create wood as well as various plants, from simple seeds to even flowering trees.[18] Wood and plants can be produced from any surface, including the user's own body, as the user's chakra is literally converted into a source of life. Wood Release Techniques (木遁の術, Mokuton no Jutsu) are commonly affiliated with the Snake seal.

Inspiration

The concept of special ninja techniques limited by bloodline inheritance may have been inspired in part by the works of Futaro Yamada, which strongly influenced later depictions of ninja in fiction. In particular, The Kōga Ninja Scrolls (甲賀忍法帖, Kōga Ninpōchō), published in 1959, featured a pair of warring ninja clans that, through selective breeding, had produced ninja with a variety of deformities, mutations, and special abilities, even dōjutsu.

Trivia

Kekkei genkai can be preserved through the creation of Human Puppets. This allows them to retain the special traits of the users when they were still alive.

A kekkei genkai should not be confused with hiden techniques. Hiden techniques are exclusive to a certain person or clan, but only because they have kept others from learning how to perform those techniques.